Winter jacket suggestions

[Dr.Frankenputz]

Most vests over a pullover/sweater, etc. I do have one thin vest that occasionally I’ll wear under a rain jacket if it’s cold but most of these slightly puffy vests or anything with insulation would probably look weird under something else (in my opinion).

[Bill Broderick]

I agree. I tend think of the vest as the top layer, not a mid-layer. The only time that it's a mid-layer is if I end up putting a wind jacket over it mid-round.

On a side note, while I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Norse vest packs into its own pocket for convenient bag storage, I don't think that I really consider the vest to be "reversable". Yes, it can be flipped inside out and the zipper will accommodate wearing it that way, there is no pocket access on the blue side and the blue side really doesn't look like an outside layer. It's not a big deal to me as I didn't buy it for its "reversable" feature. But, I figured that I'd comment on it in case anyone else considers this to be an important feature.

Although the vest is no longer on the TGW site, I know that there will be at least 1 XL vest available in the coming days since I inadvertently bought two of them (instead of one XL and one XXL) and have returned one of them. So, if you're interested in an XL vest, keep looking. According to FedEx, it's scheduled to be delivered the TGW on Wednesday. But, it looks like it's heading west a lot faster than my orders have been heading east.

[bellken]

I would agree to a full zip vest being worn outside of a fleece pullover. It is a whole lot easier to put on/take off a vest, if it isn't underneath a pullover.

[SPIF]

Well 4 of my 8 orders came in from TGW. Looks like the Oxford Blue and Snorkel Blue Norse II jackets I ordered in medium (everything else I ordered was small) are going to be a touch too big. I would have been bummed, but thankfully ordered the Oxford Blue Norse II in small as well!

In size small, and only in size small, Ping seems to run true to most other brands out there.

A side note: The Karsten III and Raymond polos, as well as the practice tees, all were very long. Great fit otherwise...

[Bill Broderick]

I received a bunch of polo shirts today. I have to agree with Chris. They are really nice. I went back and ordered a bunch more. TGW has raised the prices of the PING shirts by $10 (from $19.95 to $29.95). But they are running a 30% off sale on selected merchandise and the $29.95 shirts are a part of that list. So, the prices have really only gone up by about $1.

[chris975d]

I definitely would not make the statement that "sizing seems to run true to most other brands out there." This simply has not been the case for a lot of posters here, and for the 50+ of these (Norse II) that I have fit/sold. That CAN be the case with the smaller sizes (and seems to be more frequent in those smaller sizes), but is almost always not the case with the larger sizes (large and up I'd say). Every member of my staff that I put in a Norse II, size large and up, HAD to go up a size just to be able to zip it. About half the mediums actually fit into medium Norses, the rest sized up. I did not fit anyone into smalls, and I have a 135 lb, 5' 10" staff member. This pattern holds true for the Norse IIs that I've sold to customers as well. People are shocked when they pull "their usual size" off the rack and try it on and either can't get it zipped, or can't move well in it when they do.

[SPIF]

Fair enough, and I appreciate you chiming in Chris! I definitely should have made it clear that for me, at 5'8", 155 lbs, with a 37" chest, the medium was not a viable option unless I was heavily layered beneath the Norse II. Small fits me throughout the torso across the board with almost all brands, including Ping.

Honestly, I apologize if I affected people's purchases negatively!

[wagsgt]

For the Norse 2 sizing I think medium is true to size and everything thing above is a size up. I ordered both. I’m 5’11 175. 40” chest. And medium is perfect. Large would work too but is kinda baggy around waist. I wear medium in everything. Honestly will keep large or maybe trade for another medium. I would easily paid full price for these

[Bill Broderick]

Using the PING size chart posted earlier in this thread, someone with a 37" chest should fit into a small.

 

[kobe123]

I went back and got a medium in the Elden Pullover, fits great. I also got a large in the Phaser and it fits great too. I believe the Elden runs a little big.

[howaboutme]

I followed this guide initially but my XL Norse II was way too big for my ~43.5" chest. It was big in the chest, arms and length. I returned it and got a L and it's great! There is even some room in the chest so not sure what is going on with the size charts. For me at least, it looks like the one posted on TGW is more correct.

[Bill Broderick]

 

The one posted on TGW is the polo shirt guide. PING polo shirts come with a dual size label. Polos that I received yesterday came labled as EUR XXL / US XL. The size chart above comes from PING. Other than polos, it appears that PING is just using Euro sizing.

I agree that there is some wiggle room. I have a 47.5" chest and the XXL is a little loose (if I'm not wearing a heavy mid-layer below it) and the CL is a little snug (with just a polo underneath).

[chris975d]

I will always say that "your mileage may vary" in the fit of apparel, as all bodies are different, and sizing standards are to try and cover the vast majority of bodies in that size measurement range, but...these charts from PING are accurate in about 9 out of 10 cases. I rarely, if ever see someone that truly fits (and fits is an ambiguous term, as most people do not wear clothing as form fitting as manufacturers intend) into a PING XL polo also be able to fit into a PING XL Norse. That sale is almost always XL PING (or Under Armour, their polos are a similar cut) polos and XXL Norse. Same for Large and XXL.

Again, bodies are different, and before my somewhat recent total body restructuring (powerlifting injuries), I was a 47" chest, 21" bicep/tricep, with a 33" waist...try fitting ANYTHING to that. What fit at the chest/shoulders was comically large in the torso, but if I fit to the torso, I couldn't move in the shoulders. It's best for everyone to actually try on before buying whenever possible, but the PING size guides will work for average sized/proportioned people 9 out of 10 times...granted, they do have a Euro slant, so they also expect a relatively flat midsection...a "gut" will throw it all off.

[howaboutme]

Yes, agreed. Prior to anyone posting here, I went to the Ping website to confirm sizing charts as well so I would have followed the correct one anyways. Love the jacket.

[JDFish]

Thanks, chris975d for all of your information in this thread!

[Dr.Frankenputz]

Anyone know of where to get a Norse (fully insulated) in small in the US? No longer on tgw or ping’s site. My medium is a bit big & I’ll probably give to a buddy. My Norse vest is ok but a little thinner than anticipated. My other stuff in my ping haul from tgw is great; thanks guys, especially chris. Definitely too bad if they’re no longer available in the US.

[chris975d]

You’ll have to hope to come up on a smaller shop that stocks/stocked PING, as per the latest inventory report, PING no longer has any stock of Norse II fully insulateds available.

 

[Dr.Frankenputz]

I’m probably out of luck. Last year or whenever you originally recommended the Norse jackets I checked around to a few of the shops with ping accounts in SE Wisconsin & none were at all interested/willing to order. Most weren’t even aware ping had apparel. You’d think in this part of the country a decent rep could get these jackets in front of people & into some shops.

[Dr.Frankenputz]

Maybe I’ll just get a walllmart camo jacket.

[chris975d]

I seriously doubt I can help, but I will reach out to some contacts and see if I can somehow locate a small. If I have any success, I’ll reach out to you privately.

[Dr.Frankenputz]

Thank you very much. I’ll certainly live without but if you can get one that would be awesome.

[Bill Broderick]

Check TGW each morning. From what I can tell, when they get returns, they put an out of stock item back on the website for that day. Yesterday, they had both colors of the fully insulated Norse available (although it's still being called "zoned"). IIRC, there were multiple sizes of the light blue available and one size of the navy one available. When they go back out of stock, those items stay on the site all day, but get displayed as "item not available". With all of the people who bought multiple sizes in order to try them on at home and then return one, I'd be very surprised if the Norse doesn't show up on TGW's site from time to time over the next few weeks, with very limited quantity.

I don't know what time they refresh the lineup on their website. But, it appears that they don't add inventory throughout the day. So, your best bet is to check the site early in the day. If you see new items that have been added, and the Norse II is not there, you probably don't need to check again until around the same time the next day.

[Pepe8714]

Thanks to all for the heads up and info here. Was able to snag a bunch of items for myself and for gifts.

If anyone happens to have any Elden zips or Norse II in size Medium or Small, any color, please send me a PM before returning the item to TGW. I’d like to buy it off of you.

[Bill Broderick]

As of 10am today, they have both colors of the Fully insulated Norse in XL.

[Bill Broderick]

I really hope that TGW is getting a good deal from FedEx because FedEx Ground through Lenexa KS is abysmal. I've placed about 10 orders from TGW over the past few weeks and not a single package has gotten through that distribution center in less than 24 hours from the time that it arrives til the time it leaves. Every single package has missed the initial scheduled delivery date, most likely due to this delay. It's not like I'm in some remote location that only receives a few packages. In in an NYC suburb. That place isn't a distribution center. It's a warehouse.

[DFW Snowman]

In general, I have found FedEx estimated delivery dates to be very unreliable over the past month from any merchant. I can see why Amazon stopped allowing their vendors to use FedEx. USPS has also been somewhat behind. I've found UPS has actually been the most reliable shipper so far this year, which has not been my experience in the past. They are 12 for 12 on time or a day ahead since the beginning of November.

For some winter jacket content, I have been enjoying my Norse II this year. I have only worn a t-shirt underneath it and been comfortable down to about 30 degrees at night. I didn't get the great deal at TGW (my order was cancelled even though the website showed my size in stock when I purchased AND when I got my cancellation) but do not regret the purchase.

The Zero Gravity short-sleeve rain jacket has also been a nice purchase. I like the fit and how easily it packs up.

[tmac7592]

While UPS may be accurate with dates they are typically twice as long to deliver as usps priority. Same with fed ex so while it’s accurate, it’s easy to be when it takes forever. Most retailers who use fed or ups use their slowest delivery service which is truly brutal and pathetic

[Bill Broderick]

The USPS runs an amazing (but greatly unappreciated) operation. I took a tour of one of their regional distribution centers a few years ago and came away incredibly impressed. The only place where they have consistenly suffered for me has been with international shipments. The 4 or 5 things that I've ordered from the UK have gotten stuck between JFK and the Queens distribution center for 2 or 3 days. It's frustrating when your package gets from the UK to JFK faster than the 33 miles between JFK and my house. One time, my stuff got to take a trip through Billings Montana from JFK before heading back to Long Island.

[VNutz]

Forgot to come back to this thread. My navy size Large Norse(s) in both zoned and insulated will be going back to TGW this week, so if anybody wants them for my cost and shipping send me a message. If not I'll send back to TGW. Also returning the Elden in tan in Medium and Large, same deal.

[mileslong]

I'm interested in the Norse full insulated.